Convince Your Supervisor

Thank you for your interest in joining us at our 130th Annual Training Conference & Expo. We know that you will leave the conference full of important knowledge, new resources, and refreshed passion to share with your colleagues and clients. We also know that sometimes, it’s not up to you to decide whether you get to attend. Aside from the cost, it is hard to take the time away from your clients and your team. 

We believe we can provide better service and avoid burnout if we make time for growth and new ideas. We hope these tips and a sample letter to your supervisor will help you gain support for your attendance at the conference. 

We look forward to having you join us! 

Tips

1. Emphasize the specific skills you’d like to strengthen or develop at the conference and connect them to specific conference sessions being held this year.


2. Offer to share your learning by taking detailed notes and delivering a short presentation for your colleagues. This will benefit your whole team and organization.


3. Share the conference schedule and sponsor list with your colleagues and offer to seek out resources to meet their needs.


4. Prepare a plan that shows who will cover for you while you are attending the conference.


5. Show that you’re conscious of the costs by pointing out the extra on-demand content you will receive with your in-person registration. If you prefer to register for the Virtual Only option, you can highlight the savings that would apply for travel and lodging.

Sample Letter

Hello [Supervisor],

This year, as always, I would like to bring my best self to support our organization’s mission and help those we serve. To help me strengthen the skills I will need to continue to grow and do my best work, I would love to attend MSSA’s upcoming 130th Annual Training Conference & Expo.

The 130th Annual Training Conference & Expo takes place in person March 15-17, 2023 at the Hilton Minneapolis, with live webinars to follow every Thursday in April, as well as on-demand recordings available through May 12. Health and human service professionals will come together for over 100 sessions exploring current and emerging practices, hear from speakers on their expertise and lived experiences, and be presented with diverse cultural and regional perspectives. Networking opportunities with attendees and conference sponsor organizations will highlight the latest resources and services that can support our work.

I believe this conference is an excellent opportunity for us to engage with health and human services experts, connect with potential new partners and resources, and bring practical information back to our organization. I am particularly excited about [SPECIFIC SESSION, EVENT, OR TOPIC], which I believe will help us [APPLY TO YOUR WORK].

My conference registration will cost [COST]. I will ensure my duties are covered while I am away. I will also take detailed notes and give a recap presentation for our team when I return.

Thanks in advance for considering my request. I would love to talk more about this opportunity and answer any questions you might have!

Thank you for your consideration,
[Employee]